12 Everyday Words You Use That Are Actually Racist

Society has made great progress in the last 50 years in the Western World - with racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism far less prevalent than it was during the majority of the 20th Century. The rise in Britain of such political parties as UKIP and the BNP, and the growing support for "anti-Islamisation" groups such as Pegida in Europe, proves that much progress it still to be made - but there is no doubting that homosexuals and ethnic minority groups have far great opportunities than they did half a century ago. The use of racist and derogatory terms such as "Paki", "golliwog" and "Chink" have thankfully become a rarity rather than a common occurrence. Yet on a daily basis, almost every single person in the Western World will use a word that has racist connotations - usually inadvertently. Although the exact definition and connotations of these words and phrases may have altered and adapted over time, their origins remain highly racist and derogatory. In fact, a well-known children's rhyme is actually a racist song derived from the southern states of the USA. So, here are 12 words that you will harmlessly use everyday and not realise that, in actual fact, they are really quite racist...